Jervis and Bridget Sparks Collection

Jervis and Bridget Sparks lived at assistant keeper’s cottage number 2 at Barrenjoey Lighthouse for 31 years. During this time they restored the cottage turning it into a functioning home with water, hand-pumped from an underground rainwater cistern, but no electricity. They acted as custodians for the lighthouse and its associated buildings.

They kept environmental records of weather, the state of Broken Bay and Pittwater, wildlife, and flora. They also recorded details of the lighthouse precinct’s heritage. They willingly shared all their knowledge and experience on guided walks and opened the cottage to visitors too. Bridget and Jervis left the cottage in 1999 when all leases were terminated with a management change from Commonwealth to State.

They have collated and gathered together this thirty years’ work and in November 2004 donated many of their documents to Pittwater Local Studies Collection at Mona Vale Library

The collection covers not only Barrenjoey Lighthouse but also information about lighthouses and navigation world wide. The collection can be viewed only by appointment, however much of the information is available in the library’s general local studies collection. Please phone Virginia 9970 1607 or Sally 9970 1613 or email

Books about Lighthouses and navigation

  • Ian Cameron, Technical Data Faults and Failures for NSW Lighthouses,Leather Bound Volumes (2).
  • Ingrid Anderson, Joan Kerr, Catherine Peake, Designing Lights : Drawings for Colonial Lighthouses, 1817-1899, Royal Australian Institute of Architects, 1986
  • Australian Archives, Lighthouses in Australia, Australian Government Publishing Service, 1991.
  • Andrea Ashworth, The Sea, Granta, 1998. Australian Environmental Publications, Australian and New Zealand Ships Log Book, Australian Environmental Publications, n.d. Bella Bathurst, The Lighthouse Stevensons, Harper Collins, 1999.
  • Peter Bridges & Don McDonald, James Barnet, Colonial Architect, Southwood Press, 1988. Mary Ellen Chase, The Story of Lighthouses, W. W. Norton & Co., 1965
  • Alan Clark, Historical Tales of Jervis Bay, Alan Clark, 1993.
  • Mary Shelley Clark, Ships and Shores and Trading Ports, Waterways Authority of N.S.W., 2001. Crawford’s Mariners Atlas, Port Stephens to Jervis Bay, Crawford House, 1995.
  • Peter Cuffley, Oil and Kerosene Lamps in Australia, Pioneer Design Studio, 1982.
  • W.H. Davenport Adams, Lighthouses and Lightships, T. Nelson and Sons, 1875 Naomi England, The Story of a Lighthouse (South Solitary), Coffs Harbour & District Historical Society Publication, 1982.
  • B.V. Hamon, General Lighthouse Authorities, Marine Aids to Navigation into the 21st Century, General Lighthouse Authorities, 1996. The Historic Houses Trust of N.S.W, Let There Be Light, The Historic Houses Trust of N.S.W., 1990.
  • Lighthouses, A Photographic Tour, Browntrout Publishers, 998.
  • Lighthouses, Coast Guard Vessels and Aircraft, Horizon Images, 1988. (Calendar)
  • Lighthouses of New England, Lighthouse Publications, 1988. (Calendar)
  • John Lister-Kaye, The White Island, Pan Books Ltd. 1976.
  • Alan Lucas, Cruising the New South Wales Coast, Alan Lucas Guides, 1995.
  • Tom Mead, The Fatal Lights, Dolphin Books, n.d.
  • The Moreton Venture’s Guide to Moreton Island, Tourism Advisory Services, n.d.
  • Paul Morrison & Tony Rylance,Coquet Island, Belfry Publicity, 1989.
  • Mystic Seaport Museum Stores, catalogue, 1989.
  • Capt John Noble, Australian Lighthouses, Nelson Doubleday, 1967
  • NSW Legislative Council, Report on Light-houses on Southern and Eastern Coasts, October 1863.incl. Minutes of Evidence taken before the select committee on Lighthouses.
  • Minutes of Evidence taken before the select committee on Shipwrecks on the Coast, 1867.
  • John O’C Ross, The Lighthouses of New Zealand, Dunmore Press, 1975.
  • Laurelle Pacey, The Lure of Montague, Laurelle Pacey Publisher, 1991
  • Tony Parker, Lighthouse, Hutchinson & Co, 1975.
  • Ronald Parsons, Lighthouses of South Australia, Ronald Parsons, 1985.
  • Valmai Phillips, Romance of Australian Lighthouses, Rigby Limited, 1977.
  • Olwen Reed, Lighthouses, Lightships and Lifeboats, Ladybird Books, 1968.
  • Gordon Reid, From Dusk Till Dawn, A History of Australian Lighthouses, Macmillan, 1988.
  • Sailing Directions, New South Wales Coast, Maritime Services Board, 1976.
  • Sailing Directions New South Wales Coast, Maritime Services Board, 1983.
  • Richard Simpkin, The Cruising Yachtsman’s Navigator, Stanley Paul & Co., 1978.
  • Dacre Smyth, The Lighthouses of Victoria, Dacre Smyth, 1980.
  • Donald Walker, Beacons of Hope, Mercury Press, 1981.

    • Fiction

  • Brian Connell, Return of the Tiger, Pan Books, 1971.
  • Kate Taylor, Lighthouse Ghost, Greater Gilder Productions, 2003.
  • Nola Turkington, Lyn Gilbert, The Toma Tales, Human & Rousseau, 1995.
  • Rob West, The Colossus of Richard O’Leary, Pacific Nowrthwest Books, 1999.
  • Susan Wiggs, The Lightkeeper, Mira Booka, 1997.
  • Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse, Penguin Books, 1927.

    • Miscellaneous

  • Folder of articles about Australian Lighthouses.
  • Folder of articles about Lighthouses non- Australian

    • Other topics

  • Australian History Resources Centre, Macquarie University, 1987.
  • Jonathan King, Waltzing Materialism, Harper & Row, 1978.
  • Jonathan King, The Battle for the Bicentenary, Hutchinson Australia, 1989.
  • B.V. Hamon, They Came to Murramarang, Australian National University, 1994.
  • Lord Howe Island 1788 to 1988. and Lord Howe Island Geology (map).
  • Rosemary Manchester, Beloved Physician The Story of Fenton Dods, Scanagraphics Pty Ltd, 1989.
  • John Vivian, Wood Heat, Rodale Press, 1976.

    Sydney

    Margaret Baker, Robin Corringham, Jill Dark, Native Plants of the Sydney Region, Three Sisters Productions, 1989.
  • Alec M. Blombery, Australian Wildflowers to Cultivate, Paul Hamlyn, 1975.
  • John Carnemolla, Sydney By The Sea, Horwitz Publications, 1969.
  • Elizabeth Cavanough, Sydney Holiday, Lansdowne Press, 1967.
  • Nelse Cay, The Story of Simeon Lord, The Quirindi Newspaper Company, 1989
  • John Child, Australian Sea Shells, Periwinkle Press, 1959.
  • W.J. Dakin, Australian Seashores, Angus & Robinson, 1952
  • Christine A Deacon, Australia Down Under, Doubleday, 1986.
  • Ken Griffiths, Reptiles of the Sydney Region, Three Sisters Publications, 1987.
  • Dhurag and Lower Hawkesbury Historical Society, The Ferry, The Branch, The Creek, Aspects of Hawkesbury History, 1987.
  • Jacqueline Huie, Untourist Sydney, UnTourisst Co Pty Ltd, 1995.
  • Frank Hurley and Barbara Mullins, Australia’s Wildflowers, Reed, 1968.
  • Ian Jack, Exploring the Hawkesbury, Kangaroo Press, 1986.
  • Noel E Johnson, History of Brooklyn, 1993.
  • Joan Lawrence, Sydney Good Walks Guide, Kingsclear Books, 1991.
  • Peter Lacey, Weekend Sydney, Explorer Books, 1978.
  • Mervyn Millett, Australian Eucalypts, Lansdowne Press, 1969.
  • John Pastorelli, Urban Wildlife of New South Wales, Angus & Robertson, 1990.
  • Return of the Bounty, Flagship of the Fleet, Electronic Enterprises, n.d.
  • Peter Slater, The Birdwatcher’s Notebook, Weldon Publishing, 1988.
  • Ure Smith, Sydney Beaches, Ure Smith 1950.
  • Sydney the Harbour City, Bartel, 1993.

    • Barrenjoey Resources published

  • Walter Brooksbank, “The Barrenjoey Light”, Walkabout, July 1965, p.41-4.
  • Thecla Dittmer, “Broken Bay Customs Station”, Australian Customs History Journal No.1 June 1989, p.23-5.
  • CW Henderson, “Pittwater A Port from 1843 to 1900” Port of Sydney, Maritime Services Board of NSW, Vol.8, No.5, June 1963, p.132-140.
  • Clive Lucas, Barrenjoey Lightstation, Pittwater, NSW. Conservation Management Plan, 1994.Annotated
  • Pix, 29 August 1959, p.15.
  • Jervis Sparks, “Barrenjoey Lighthouse”, Northern Beaches Journal, No.4 Spring 1999, p.17-21.
  • “Beyond the Bends’, Vogue Australia, March1996, p.180-5 &200
  • Vogue Australia, April 1994, p.96- 105. (Modelling at Barrenjoey Lighthouse)
  • Linda Wayman, “Lights. For the navigator they are essential, for many of us, pure romance.”, Cruising Helsman, May 1983, p.58-62.

    Barrenjoey Resources unpublished

  • Danielle Lautrec, “An Aboriginal Contact Site Historical Archaeology 2 Major Project, Sydney University 1982 in Jervis Sparks, Research Notes on Aboriginal Sites of Pittwater and Palm Beach, Barranjoey Historical Resources Centre, 1996.
  • Patrick Mulhall story, n.d.
  • Jervis and Bridget Sparks, Barranjoey Headland Longterm Management Review, presented to Bronwyn Bishop Federal member for Mackellar and John Brogden Sate member for Pittwater, June 1996
  • Jervis Sparks, Barranjoey Headland Palm Beach Plan of Management, (adapted from Pittwater Council’s plan for Governor Phillip Park), 1996.
  • Jervis Sparks, Barranjoey Lighthouse Opening Day 29 July 1881. Information about four men who contributed most to the construction. Francis Hixson, James Barnet, Isaac Banks, George Robert Whiting Jervis Sparks, Pittwater Studies and Reports, Seagrass beds, Environmental abuse, 1980s &1990s, many coloured photos of state of Pittwater, waves etc.
  • Jervis Sparks, Research Notes on Aboriginal Sites of Pittwater and Palm Beach, Barranjoey Historical Resources Centre, 1996.
  • Jervis Sparks, Research Notes on Schools and Churches, Barranjoey Historical Resources Centre, 1998.
  • Jervis Sparks, Research Notes on the Rise and Fall of the Postal Service at Palm Beach NSW 1879-1994, Barranjoey Historical Resources Centre, 1998.
  • Jervis Sparks, Maps of Pitt Water and Barranjoey Headland and Plans of Barranjoey Principal Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage and the Assistant Keeper’s Cottage, Barranjoey Historical Resources Centre, 1996 1998.
  • Jervis Sparks, The Renovation of the Smugglers Track Barranjoey Headland 11 May-22 July 1998, 1998. Jervis Sparks, A tribute to a Mate Tony Parker, 1997
  • Jervis Sparks, Tales from Barranjoey and Tony Parker, 1993.
  • Jervis Sparks.Inward Research Correspondence for Tales from Barranjoey. Archival Sources and Publishing Criteria
  • Jervis Sparks, Research and Correspondence with the Australian Lighthouse Service, 1996.
  • Jervis Sparks, Visitors Book Barranjoey Lighthouse, information and copies of entries.
  • Jervis & Bridget Sparks, Barranjoey Headland a Chase Alive Guided Walk, 1993.
  • Jervis & Bridget Sparks, Barranjoey Headland a Chase Alive Guided Walk, 28 February 1993.
  • Jervis and Bridget Sparks, A Barranjoey Winter Walk, 25 June 1995.
  • Jervis and Bridget Sparks, A Nature Walk at Barranjoey, 18 July 1998.

    • Festivals and Events

  • Clean Up Australia Day 1992 Site 196.Barrenjoey Headland -details and location of rubbish.
  • Pittwater Festival 1995 and the involvement of Bridget and Jervis Sparks,1995.
  • Pittwater Festival 1996 Exhibition of paintings of Barrenjoey Lighthouse. List and photographs of entries. News articles covering all festival events.
  • Pittwater Festival 1998 third festival and contribution by Bridget and Jervis Sparks.

    • Correspondence collated and bound by Jervis Sparks

  • Correspondence about Tales from Barranjoey. [Large Ringbinder]
  • Minutes of Pittwater Heritage and History Committee 1995-1998.
  • Correspondence mostly by and to Frank Johnston regarding Barrenjoey Isthmus and Headland 1984-9.
  • Correspondence and entry for AMOL, selected bibliography of lighthouses.
  • Correspondence with Royal Australian Historical Society, and various museums and archives.1987-1998.
  • Sundry Correspondence environmental, flora, fauna, NPWS, koalas. 1968-1998.
  • Sundry correspondence and newsletters, Manly Warringah Pittwater Historical Society and the Palm Beach Association.
  • Sundry correspondence Warringah Shire Council 1982-1997.
  • Sundry correspondence Pittwater Council 1992-1998.

    • Barrenjoey Studies by students

  • Bicentennial Project 1988, information and events
  • Michael Barton, year 9 St Ignatius College Riverview, Barranjoey to Coasters Retreat to Whale Beach, May 1994.
  • Dusanka Bubalo, Barrenjoey Lighthouse Cottages, Conservation Assignment, 1997.
  • Dusanka Bubalo, Barrenjoey House [Headkeeper’s Cottage], Report Summary November 1998.
  • Class I B T & Mrs Bridges Avalon PS, drawings and letter asking questions, October 1998.
  • Jessica Gallian, What impact have White People had on the Aboriginal Sites at Palm Beach?, October 1990.
  • Katherine S Galloway, The Effects of Human Habitation on Native Flora and Fauna of Barrenjoey Headland, September 1990.
  • Michele Clare Harding, Evolution of the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, BArch. Dissertation UNSW, 1988.
  • Ann Smith, Michele Harding, Dermot Thompson, Conservation Plan Barrenjoey Lighthouse and Cottages, August 1986
  • Caitlin Wright, Barranjoey Lighthouse History Heritage Buildings, November 1994

    • Miscellaneous pamphlets etc in box

  • 175 and Beyond. A Bicentennial Decade Salute to Australia’s Postal Service 1809-1984.
  • “A sentinel on the Coast. Historic Lighthouse at Barrenjoey.” Sea Land and Air, 1 November 1921.
  • Douglas Baglin & Barbara Mullins, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 1968.
  • Douglas Baglin & Barbara Mullins, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 1979.
  • Jack Clerk Jr, The Surprising Surprise, 1995.
  • Department of Fair Trading, The renting Guide, 1995 Annotated
  • William Romaine Govett, Sketches of New South Wales, 1977 edition, p/c p.54-61.
  • L H Hamilton, “Notes on the Dykes in Sydney Area. A Note on Dykes in the Palm Beach Area”, Journal of the University of NSW Mining and Geological Society, Vol.III, 1965, p.105-9
  • Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Vol.VI Part IV, Oct 1920.
  • Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Vol.XXVI Part IV, 1940
  • Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Vol.XXX Part III, 1944
  • Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Vol.73 Part 2, Oct 1987. (Hixson)
  • Mike Law, Sydney and the Sea Cliffs A Rock Guide, Wild Publications, 1991.
  • Lynne McLoughlin, Making Your Garden Bush Friendly, 1990
  • Manly and Northern Beaches Visitors Guide, 1996, Summer edition Nature’s Own Resort. Select Holiday Guide to Broken Bay the Hawkesbury and Pittwater, n.d. c.1980s?
  • NSW Urban Wildlife Survey Guide book for observers,1988.
  • Palm Beach Barrenjoey, brochure for second subdivision sale 26 December 1912 (photocopy)
  • Saltwater 94 Guide Annotated
  • Silent Knight, Kerosene operated refrigerators.Instructions for installation operation and general service directions, Hallstroms P/L . n.d
  • West Pittwater Community Association, Perspective, January 1992.
  • White Sewing Machine Corporation, Directions for using the White Vibrator Sewing Machine and its attachments, Cleveland USA n.d

    • Magazines and Journals

  • Sounds of Oceania, The Oceania Project Magazine, 1989.
  • Sydney Afloat, a selection of articles about lighthouses May 1996 to June 1997.
  • Trinity House Gazette, June & September 1986, September & December 1987, March & June 1988.
  • Flash Yearbook of Trinity House Service 1987 & 1988.
  • Flash – Trinity House Quarterly. September & December 1988, March, June, September & December 1989, March, June, September & December 1990, March, June, September & December 1991, March, June, September and December 1992, March 993.
  • Trinity House Annual Review. June 1993, June 1995, June 1995, June 1996, June 1997, June 1998, June 1999 and June 2000.
  • Flash – Trinity House Yearbook, 1994, 19095, 1996 Prism. Official Newsletter of the Australian Lighthouse Association (Bound Volumes). 1982-1992m 1993-1997, 1998-2000, 2001-2993.
  • Leading Lights, International Journal of Pharology, Pilotage and Seamarks, Vol. 2, No.9.
  • The Keepers Log, Journal of the United States Lighthouse Society, Vol . V, No. 2 Winter 1989.

    • Local Studies vertical files

  • Pittwater Council, Native Plants for your Garden
  • Pittwater Hawkesbury Brisbane Water Boating Directory 1997.
  • Pittwater Hawkesbury Brisbane Water Boating Directory 1998.
  • Sundry brochures about Hawkesbury River Cruises and history
  • Sundry brochures about foreshores and marine habitats
  • Sundry brochures about walks in national parks in the area